Bought THE dress!!!

[kama_s]

So even though most brides can''t wait to go dress shopping, it was the one thing I was absolutely petrified of and I''ve put it off as much as I possibly could, considering I''ve been engaged since Dec and my wedding is just shy of 8 months away. Soooooo...I finally got my big chunky ass to go dress shopping this weekend. The first store I went to had nothing above a bridal size 8. I''m not your typical size 6 with a gorgeous bod that would look good in just about anything, but I sure was hoping I could at least get into a dress!! The sales lady suggested I *hold up* the dress against myself to see how it would look. Now, first off, you expect me to drop 5K on a dress that I didnt even try on?! To top that, I wont even know what I''d be looking like on my wedding day until the first fitting?! Right ho!!

Anyways, then I went to another store and this was the first dress the lady suggested I try on. Needless to say, I was in love! That said, I''ve heard much about the "first dress syndrome", so I tried around 5 dresses after that, but I still loved the first one on me. I brought my friends today, and they loved it. I also sent pics to my father and my mum-in-law (who I absolutely adore!), and everyone seems to love it as well. So, I went ahead ahead and ordered it (well, not quite since the payment is due on wednesday)!! I''m so glad everyone *appeared* to like it, because I dont think I could take another day of dress shopping!

It''s raw silk, with alencon lace, by my absolutely fav. designer Paloma Blanca (who, incidentally, is my friend''s uncle!). I''m changing it to a sweetheart neck, and I''m also adding more lace to the bottom of the skirt. The last picture will show you another dress with a lacey bottom that I held infront of my dress, just to get a feel how it would look with additional lace. It''s going to be in the same colour (champagne).

Would love all your opinions, but oh, please do be gentle on my poor soul

 

[kama_s]

Another, with the white light on.

 

[kama_s]

The lace I''d like incorporated to the bottom of my skirt.

 

[kama_s]

Here''s the dress on the model, although it looks NOTHING like that on me. I actually flipped past this dress a million times without batting an eyelash. Never knew my child-bearing hips would actually come to my aid pre-childbirth

 

[kama_s]

Close-up of the lace on the bodice

 

[Lanie]

I think you and the dress are beautiful. Good call on the sweetheart neckline.

I love the veil as well! Congrats on checking THE dress off your list!

 

[CDNinNYC]

It looks wonderful on you! I don''t blame you for passing on the dress when looking at it on the model. I like it better on you.

I also agree the dress will look all that much better with the lace at the hem. Congrats on finding the dress!

 

[UCLABelle]

That dress is perfect on you! I love it so much! So happy for you!

 

[VRBeauty]

It''s a lovely dress and looks beautiful on you.

And absolutely YES on the sweetheart neckline.

 

[SeattleSweetheart]

That is one gorgeous dress

and you are going to be an absolutely beautiful bride when you walk down the aisle in that dress!

Good call on the sweetheart neckline and more lace at the bottom.

Congratulations on finding the dress you are going to get married in!

 

[Kim N]

You look gorgeous! What a fabulous choice!

 

[bee*]

It looks so much better on your than it does on the model! Congratulations on getting your dress!!

 

[angielea]

The dress looks beautiful on you! I think the sweetheart neckline will look wonderful.

I think the bottom of the skirt looks lovely as is, but I''ll love to see it when you''re done.

 

[galvana]

I love it! great choice!~ it really looks great on you, im so happy you found THE dress! YAY!
and see how awesome you look in it too! YAY

 

[MaggieB]

I tried on that dress! It is so lovely, pictures really don''t do it justice. (I decided not to go strapless because I have no boobs.) You are going to be beautiful in it! Congratulations!

 

[kama_s]

Thanks so much for all the lovely comments!

I''m so glad you all like it too, because I''ve been flip-flopping all night...makes my decision easier! All other dresses I tried on made me look either bulky (because of all the poof) or engulfed me (because I''m short, 5''4). I thought this looked alright on me, but I didnt have that ''omg this is my dress'' moment. It''s growing on me, so I''m getting quite excited now.

 

[lliang_chi]

Wow, this dress looks WAAAAY better on you than the model! It looks AWESOME!!!

 

[Lanie]

Kama...are you wearing a veil?

I didn''t neccesarily have that "OMG" moment with my dress either. It became more OMG after I uber analyzed it and got different opinions. It''s clear from this forum that this is a perfect choice for you.

 

[violet3]

It looks amazing on you and it''s soooo classic and romantic looking....ditto to the yes''s on the sweetheart neckline - perfect!

 

[idreamofcushions]

WOW! Truly stunning! It looks better on you than the model! I have seen this dress online and in magazines...I love this designer. When the time comes for me to go dress shopping, I''m definitely looking for a boutique that carries them. The fabric is just so luxe

 

[kama_s]

Thank you thank you thank you for all the encouraging feedback! The fabric is indeed amazing, it''s so light-weight and airy, and easy to dance all night in.

Lanie: Thanks for sharing your ''omg'' story, I''m so glad to know I''m not the only one.

I''ll be wearing a veil similar to the one in the pictures. A long cathedral veil with a thin lace trim. Except, I''m not getting the exact one from this store because of the crazy 700$ price tag! My overzealous friend prohibited me from buying it and instead wants to make it herself (who, at this point, has already offered to do my save-the-dates, invitations AND floral arrangements because of the price tag - yep, she''s a tad bit insane. In case you''re wondering, I''m not letting her do ANY of the above...she hasn''t the slightest on how time consuming everything is, especially since we''re both in graduate school!). I''m going to try to find something similar elsewhere, perhaps ebay? I cant, for the life of me, understand why a piece of net and lace costs an arm and a leg?!!

Again, thanks so much for all the wonderful comments ladies.

 

[Lanie]

Kama...try www.occanseydesigns.com with Kathy. She is making a cathedral length veil for me with thin lace on the edges as well. It''s priced at under 200. It just depends on the lace you use, and she''ll send you different samples and you can pretty much tell her your budget. She''s really, really helpful. I highly recommend it!

 

[palomablancabride]

Kama! That's my dress, too! I haven't found anyone else with it yet. The model definitely does not do the dress justice. It looks great on you. I can't wait to get mine next month.

 

[mintve]

so pretty! love the lace!!

 

[kama_s]

Lanie: Thanks so much for the referral. I went through her website and saw some of the lace veils in her gallery, and it''s pretty much exactly what I''m looking for. I''ll message her sometime next week and see if she can make one for me as well. The price is most certainly reasonable. Thanks! You''re awesome!

Palomabancabride: I guess I can officially use the term ''dress twin'' now! What colour are you getting the dress in? It''s so beautiful, and I''m sure you''ll be a gorgeous bride! Have you posted pics of you in it on PS? We must talk jewelry and all that jazz!

 

[CrownJewel]

I highly recommend occanseydesigns for your veil. Great prices and you get EXACTLY what you want. The veil I bought from them was based on veils that were being sold for $500-700! The one I bought cost $71 (haha even as I type that, I''m like, "really? Is that right?!). Granted, I bought 2 veils from them and I had the last one rushed to me because I changed my mind like 10 days before the wedding so I spent more than $71, but still...

Oh back to my point, I love the idea of the additional lace at the hem. Brilliant idea! I really honestly truly love the dress you chose. And I am a huge advocate of the sweetheart neckline. I never thought I would wear a strapless dress because I have extra pudge in my shoulder, upper arm, and underarm area (but no boobs - go figure). The strapless, sweetheart neckline of my dress ended up hiding aaaaallllllll of my insecurities about my upper torso.

Great choice. Can''t wait to see the final result!

 

[kama_s]

Wow! Occanseydesigns sounds like an amazing vendor. I''m glad I didnt get the veil from the store, more money for the honeymoon!

Crownjewel: You looked so gorgeous on your weding day! I do remember your sweetheart neckline from the pics, I cant believe what a difference a neckline makes! I have super flabby arms, so I was kinda wary of wearing strapless, but all the strappy dresses I wore made me look tiny. So strapless it is! I have like ZERO boob-age, so I''m going to ask them to insert bra cups lol. The sweetheart def gives me more cleavage to work with!

Thanks for all the lovely comments everyone, I''m sooo happy!

 

[LauraBabe08]

I think it looks beautiful! I like the idea of changing it to a sweetheart neckline and adding lace to the bottom. Is that the veil you are going to wear as well??

 

[palomablancabride]

Date: 10/7/2008 6:08:33 PM
Author: kama_s
Lanie: Thanks so much for the referral. I went through her website and saw some of the lace veils in her gallery, and it''s pretty much exactly what I''m looking for. I''ll message her sometime next week and see if she can make one for me as well. The price is most certainly reasonable. Thanks! You''re awesome!

Palomabancabride: I guess I can officially use the term ''dress twin'' now! What colour are you getting the dress in? It''s so beautiful, and I''m sure you''ll be a gorgeous bride! Have you posted pics of you in it on PS? We must talk jewelry and all that jazz!

kama_s, I ordered the natural. The sample I tried on was champagne though, and I looooove that color with the lace. I''m afraid I''ll be disappointed with the natural when it comes, but I''m set on having a white dress! My dress is due in a month from now and I will post pictures when I get them. I''m also envious of the cathedral veil with the lace- my wedding isn''t all that formal so I stuck with a finger length veil. For jewelry, all I have right now are these nadri earrings: http://www.stylepath.com/local_image/39/16/83916?1196781397 .

 

[dragonfly411]

Your dress looks fabulous on you!!! I Love it!!!